I woke up early this time, I checked the clock and it was only six. Yawning I stood up from the bed and walked inside the bathroom, and went on with my morning routine. I was brushing my teeth after my shower when I heard a knock. I quickly gargled the leftover toothpaste and walked towards the door.
Opening it I saw Charles with another set of clothes, he was about to speak but stopped when he saw me only wearing a towel around my body. I raised my eyebrows when I saw him staring at me, I cleared my throat which made him stand up straighter, "Put those on and be at the dining hall in an hour, and wear normal shoes with them." he said showing me the clothes before walking away.
"A quick good morning would've been nice." I said, I don't think he heard though. Rolling my eyes I went back inside the room and closed the door to change. I put the clothes down on the bed and assessed them. Jeans, black turtleneck, a brown jacket, and a vest. "Are we going somewhere?" I asked myself out loud, but without further ado I put on my underwear and dried off my hair.
Putting on the clothes Charles gave me including the vest, I assessed my outfit in the mirror. And by normal clothes I suppose he doesn't want me to wear the combat boots, so I grabbed the ankle boots I got in my bag and wore them instead.
It looked like clothes I'd wear on a daily basis. Shrugging I went outside and went down straight to the dining hall. When I got there I saw that I was a bit early and only saw Charles, Nicole, Alex and Lennox seated at their table, but nonetheless I grabbed a tray and got some pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs and coffee before walking over to our table.
"Goodmorning." I greeted them as I sat down. They replied with a "morning" and continued eating. Talk about awkward, before I forgot I asked my question. "By the way, we've been wondering about our sudden disappearances, aren't we supposed to be basically reported missing by now?" there I asked.
They glanced at me, "Are you sure she isn't the one who's psychic?" said Nicole to Charles which meant that I hit the nail in the head. "We'll be going back to New York in a couple of hours, to settle your affairs. We'll be providing you a cover story to tell your workplace about your sudden disappearances and permanent leave. Less people looking for you which means less attention." Lennox answered.
I nodded my head, that makes sense I guess. I continued to eat my food and one by one my new found friends sat down beside me, "Goodmorning." said Ley before sitting down next to me. I saw them wearing clothes the same as me, jeans, turtleneck and jacket.
"Morning, uhh, what's with the identical outfits?" I asked towards the other table.
"It'll be easier for us to identify you and in case we get followed, they won't know which is which." replied Alex as he sipped his coffee. Another good point. I suppose being assassins and spies has it's perks in covert operations.
"Wait, we're going somewhere?" asked Ley, and I told them what Lennox told me earlier, from how we need cover stories to explain our sudden disappearances. "Ohh, this mean we really need to quit our jobs huh." said Ley lowly.
"Isn't that kind of dangerous? I work for one of the people who are after us, don't you think they've noticed by now?" Ethan retorted, which is another good point. On the supposed day they have a clue on us Ethan suddenly disappears on the same day and hasn't been seen since and then he suddenly pops up after a few days. Fishy.
"We already have a fool proof plan in case the situation escalades and besides, on the day you were brought here, phone calls were made by yours truly." Lennox replied confidently. He is the tech guys I suppose, he'll get along with Ethan just fine.
We nodded and continued with our breakfast, then proceeded to the meeting room afterwards, "Here are your cover stories, memorize them and we've also prepared your resignation letters in advance to settle everything." we were now sat down on the round table and Lennox was passing out a folder to us with a few papers which indeed included a resignation supposedly made by me.
"Gosh, what am I gonna say to my editor, she'll be so disappointed." I said to myself while reading the contents of my cover story. Basically it says that my mother is gravely ill, and I have to stay with her until she gets better. she's in a medical institution in Switzerland so I'll have to quit my job. Great, how cliche can this possibly get. I haven't talked to my fake parents in years but I suppose they don't have to know that.
"So, when are we leaving? I might miss my flight to Switzerland to take care of my ill mother." I said sarcastically. "So, what's your excuse?" I asked towards my friends, memorizing their own cover story.
"I applied for a technological program in Germany and they accepted my application, qualifying me to be the team leader of the research. If only that were true huh?" Ethan replied, slightly laughing. It's not far-fetched to be honest. I could see him being smart enough for that to happen.
Lennox cleared his throat, "I thought of that you know. I checked your qualifications and researched some technological institute in Germany to sell the story. They aren't just made up, they have actual basis you know. Hmph." he retorted like a child which was adorable.
"Right, sorry." I said, chuckling slightly at his defensiveness.
"Are you done?" it was Charles' turn to speak which made me silent, still a little awkward with last night. "Angela and Thea will go with Alexander to your apartments and workplace, you have twenty minutes to get in and get out at each stop. Same goes for Lillian, you go with Lennox and discuss with your school." so, we are to traverse with the same people who kidnapped us which means... "Ethan you go with Nicole and Elizabeth would be with me." and there goes the punch line.
"We need to make this as quick as possible," said Nicole, "The faster we can go in and get out then the lower the chance of any interaction with the enemy. If ever the situation escalades, run to the vehicle and wait for us there. You are not trained for combat so leave that to us, just stay put." she explained.
"If ever you are shot," added Alex, "you are wearing the vests underneath your clothes correct?" we nodded in unison. So, that was also part of the outfit, good thing I wore it. "Those vests are bulletproof made from special materials created in the labs, made to absorb shock and stop any bullets from penetrating the skin. If you get shot in your arms or legs then immediately inform us to tend to it before it gets fatal." wow, I never would've imagined I'd get to see the day where I hear terms like, 'if ever you get shot,' and 'run immediately and wait for us' in my life and yet here I am.
"Now that's all clear, there is one more thing I'd like to say." said Charles, "If ever we get killed, abandon the vehicle and run as fast as you can. There would be an envoy of a special trained team waiting for you at the Rockefeller Center to escape. They won't be able to trace you with that many people in broad daylight." made me a bit scared, which made me realize that people can die. That these guys can die protecting us and here I am making fun of that...
We grew silent, "If you understand then let's get going. We'll be riding separately to lessen the risk. Lennox, " Charles said, Lennox gave us a small device that looked like an earpiece. "What Lennox just gave you are communication units or comms for short. We can track and contact you through that because we can't enter your workplaces with you." I put mine on and I heard static. "We'll activate it when we get there. Let's go."
Each of us went with our assigned person and once again I am left with Charles, Ley waved one last time then went with Lennox. Sighing I followed Charles to our vehicle, "If you're worried about her she'll be fine. Lennox is a good agent despite his attitude and appearance." he assured.
"I prefer Lennox' attitude actually, it's a breath of fresh air from the constant coldness and condescending attitude you other three carry out." I retorted. Would it kill them to be a little nicer? I could already imagine him rolling his eyes at my response. Kidding aside I took all I could muster and said, "You're not gonna die are you?" it was low but I'm sure he heard me because he suddenly stopped which also made me stop.
I realized what I just said and cursed under my breath, "If you're worried, worry about yourself." he said then proceeded to walk. "I can handle myself."
I ran to catch up to his long strides, he has long legs and he's walking pretty fast, "Well what was that plan B about then? If you die? Then what?" we finally reached the car on the platform, it's the same car we used when I first got here. This time I made sure to go sit at the left side of the car.
"Then that's that. New agents will be assigned to you and you move on with your lives." he said it like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Move on? I'm terrified you know. I don't want to live with the fact that some people died trying to protect me and my friends. I want to share the risk of being able to protect myself and you...guys." I almost slapped myself. What the heck was that Liz?!
What came next I did not expect, he was laughing. I looked towards him like he grew another head, "Sorry, that was the cheesiest thing I've ever heard." I felt angry. His sudden dismissal of my feelings suddenly made me furious.
"If we come back alive, then I'll train you myself. So you can "share the risk". But as long as I'm here, there's no reason for you to fight." he stared straight at me as he said this. He looked away then started the car. I was suddenly quiet by his response and just like that my anger dissipated.
One by one our vehicles exited the mountain in a convoy, "This is L, please sound off your response with an "all clear"." a voice suddenly spoke to the earpiece I was wearing. "Sound off please." and I realized I was supposed to respond.
"A-all clear." I stuttered, that was a first. "Confirmed, please wait for further instructions when you arrive at destination A." he said before the comms went silent again.
"Was that Lennox?" he asked. I nodded in response. "Good, when we get to your office I'll be talking to you through the comms, answer with a phone to your ear so they won't find it weird that you're talking to yourself." after he said that, it just dawned on me that I didn't have a cellphone.
I was about to say exactly that when he handed me one, "It's encrypted so they can't track you through it. You won't be using it exactly, think of it as a prop." I took the phone and hid it inside my jacket pocket.
"So destination A is our workplace and destination B is our apartments." I stated, "After a few days, I can see the sun again." I leaned my head against the window and basked in the feeling of finally being outside, albeit on a moving car. I didn't realize I fell asleep until I felt Charles slightly nudge my shoulder.
"Hey, wake up. We're almost there." he said softly, like being careful to wake me up. I instantly sat straight on my seat and heard a crack from my neck. Ouch, "You okay?" he asked, he probably heard. I nodded slowly, my neck was slightly achy from leaning it on one side too long. "Slept well?"
"You're awfully talkative recently, have I finally started to worn off on you?" I teased, stretching my arms, neck and back from the nap. He rolled his eyes and continued driving, "Where are the others?" I looked outside and we were already in the city, cars surrounded us left and right which made it hard to identify the others.
"They've already separated towards their routes, we're near yours. We'll be meeting them later in the rendezvous point don't worry." I fixed my complexion, grabbing the folder of my fake alibi and resignation letter as we neared the building of the publishing house I worked at as a writer and author.
"Remember your alibi, make it in and then out within 20 minutes or less and make it quick. I'll be waiting here outside and connected through your comms, alert me if you notice anything unusual, I'll immediately come and get you." and with that he parked the car on the curb in front of the publishing house and I exited the car.
I walked towards the door and breathed heavily, I turned towards the car where Charles was. He rolled the window down and gave me a thumbs up, urging me to go on. "What's wrong?" I heard his voice on my ear and breathed a sigh, I can do this.
"Nothing." I replied then entered the door. The receptionist, Clara immediately greeted me, shocked at my sudden appearance.
"Ms. Winslow, what a surprise, Ms. Violet was contacting you nonstop, she said you suddenly disappeared. You weren't at your apartment, haven't been answering calls and now you're here. Should I contact her?" she asked slightly worried. I shook my head, stopping her from making this any more difficult than it is.
"No, no. I'm actually leaving, for good. I had an emergency with my mom and I also lost my phone. I'll be going to the chief actually to hand over my resignation letter. It was great to see you again." I didn't wait for her to reply and quickly ran to the elevator to the twentieth floor where my chief of editor was.
Now that I was actually here, about to hand over a letter that could possibly ruin my career as a writer, it starts to settle in. I'm about to end my career, which I worked so damn hard for, had endless sleepless nights for, then just done...I mustered all I could not to cry then and there.
The elevator opened and I stepped in, "Are you there?" Charles asked.
"I'm almost at the office of the Editor in Chief, I'll end this quickly." I walked towards the table of Mr. Collins' secretary, the editor in chief's secretary.
"Ms. Winslow, how have you been? Ms. Violet has been hysterical lately because you haven't been answering her calls and you were gone--" I cut her off before I have the same conversation as Clara.
"Sorry, I'm kind of in a hurry. I had an emergency with my mother and I also lost my phone, I'm actually here to resign. Is Mr. Collins here?" I'll speed this up. The longer I'm here the more hesitant I get, asking myself again and again if this is really the right decision.
"That's awful, I'm sorry." she picked up the phone and typed a number, "Mr. Collins, I have here Ms. Elizabeth Winslow here to talk to you about something urgent. Yes, alright sir." she dropped the phone and ushered for me to go ahead. "He'll see you, I'm sorry for what happened." I thanked her and knocked the door.
"Come in." a voice came from inside, I slowly opened the door and saw Mr. Collins sitting down on his chair, wearing his favorite bespoke suit, with the same silver hair and wrinkles. He smiled and motioned for me to take a seat. I took slow and hesitant strides towards his desk.
This man was the person who believed in me and my ability as a writer, who made it possible for me to even write. And now here I am saying farewell because of a fake mother who caught a fatal illness. Funny, I know. "Now, tell me what urgent matter brings you here." he asked with the same voice he used to when he offered to publish my very first book here.
I couldn't help it any longer and I broke down crying, "I'm sorry. But I'm resigning." I slowly took the letter from the folder and pushed it towards him. Tears dripping on the paper, "I'm...moving to Switzerland and uhh, my mother is ill and she uhm..." I stuttered and faltered as tears continued to fall from my eyes.
He took the handkerchief he always tucked inside his breast pocket and gave it to me which made me break down harder, "It's alright dear. I understand." he took the letter and grabbed his favorite fountain pen from it's stand, signing the bottom of the paper. "Our doors are always open for you, if you ever come back." I sobbed for a few more minutes until I sobered up and wiped all the remaining tears.
"Thank you, for everything that you've done for me all these years. I'll never forget your kindness and...I'll miss you pops." I broke down again. He was like a father to me, he took care of me when I was struggling in the big city. I had just left home and was looking for a place to publish my story when we met in a coffee shop and he was reading a newspaper.
I was about to give him back his handkerchief when he pushed it back towards me, "Keep it. Think of it as a reminder of me while you're away. I know you'll make me proud some way or another." he stood up from his chair and he walked over to me and gave me one last hug. "Take care, and always remember that there will always be a place for you here."